Sep
21

September 21, 1978

Daguerreotype of Abraham Lincoln, probably in 1846 or 1847, after 1959 cleaning and restoration, copy of retouched print. From the Library of Congress: "Attributed to Nicholas H. Shepherd, based on the recollections of Gibson W. Harris, a law student in Lincoln's office from 1845 to 1847. (Gibson William Harris, "My Recollections of Abraham Lincoln," Women's Home Companion (November 1903), 9-11.) Robert Lincoln, son of the President, thought the photo was made in either St. Louis or Washington during his father's term in Congress."

The National Portrait Gallery opens its first research exhibition in photography, entitled “Facing the Light: Historic American Portrait Daguerreotypes.”

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Posted: 21 September 2010
About the Author:

Alex di Giovanni is primarily responsible for "other duties as assigned" in the Office of Communications and External Affairs. She has been with the Smithsonian since 2006 and plans to be interred in the Smithson crypt.